The Flywheel

Program for November 16th

Port of Richmond Director, Jim Matzorkis

Mr. Matzorkis will discuss how the Port's prospects
and the City's are woven together. He will outline plans
for future development and answer our questions.

MEETING OF NOVEMBER 9th, 2007

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

Judy Kafka, Leslie Levy, and Judge Bessie Margherio

Pam Jones opened the meeting today. Bill
Koziol led us in the pledge and Stoney recited
the invocation. Henry’s thought
for the day involved being able to Vote in the polls
last Tuesday.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

We had a bunch to visitors today.

Oscar Lugo a past member of our club who is now a
member of a Sacramento Club visited us today.

Joyce C. was visiting from the El Sobrante Club today.

Enis Johnson from the Richmond Police Dept. came
to lunch today with Chief Magnus.

Charles Jackson a North Richmond pastor visited us
today.

There were also a whole table of Soroptomists visiting
for lunch today who included Judge Bessie and past
member or Rotary and the owner of Rockefeller Lodge.

Sunshine Report

There were not reports of any Rotarians suffering any
ailment today.

Announcements

Don Lau’s Luau is going to be held at the Rockefeller
Lodge on Saturday evening December 15 at 6:30. The
cost is $37.50 each or $70.00 for a couple. So
bring a friend. Remember whenever Lau’s
Luau is spoken you have to recite “Pam show me
your coconuts”

Jim Beaver announced the Annual Rotary Christmas
auction. Beav will be calling for auction donation
items like he has in the past. The auction will
be Friday 12/14/07 at noon. Bring lots of cash
or a full checkbook. I think they will take credit
cards again this year. Jan Brown has promised
to buy the bottle of Gallo Muscatel.

Hank Covell announced that there will be a crab feed
dinner at Salesian high school on 1/26/07. The
cost will be $35/person and he needs attendees and
helpers. See Hank.

Happy and Sad Dollars

Jan Brown recognized Tom
Butt for describing to the
council the good work that Rotary does for Peres School.

Don Lau donated some happy dollars to recognize Jim
Beaver for overcoming his open heart surgery and let
him know that he was happy he was at lunch today.

Beav gave a long and rambling talk
about the latest Santana album. While we
were all wondering why he was doing this he finally
said his son was the album engineer.

Somebody donated some happy dollars to celebrate
the girls John Lawlis brought to Mark
Howe’s cocktail party. John
said the “Professional
Girls”

Werner Schwartz stood up and donated some money
because they forgot to recognize his birthday.

Herb Cole had some happy sheckles to celebrate Normies
birthday that was four days away.

David K stood up and was happy that Mr. Z was in
attendance today.

Earl Brown didn’t sound too hopeful that Cal
would beat USC – and he was right.

Recognitions

Earl Brown recognized John
Nichol for his six Paul
Harrises. He was awarded a pin with six stones
on it. This latest Paul Harris was for his son
in law who live in Indio.

Beav had to fill in the recognize Don’s birthday
he couldn’t do it himself.

Werner's Roast, the star-studded Recognition
event of the previous week, was gratefully acknowledged
by the Man Himself, with a thank you card bearing these
words:

Let me use our Club bulletin to thank all of you
for the great "Roast" of Friday, November
2, 2007, on the occasion of my 80th birthday. It is
an honor and pleasure to belong to an organization
that includes Rotary leaders such as you. I am especially
grateful to our President Pam Jones and Lea for planning,
arranging, and carrying out last Friday's affair.
-Werner

Raffle Results

John Nichol won the raffle but pulled a white ball.

THE PROGRAM

Richmond
Police Chief Chris Magnus spoke to us today about the happenings at RPD.

He talked the departments new magazine “RPD and you”. You can subscribe to this publication by calling 620-6655.

He also wanted us to know that the crime mapping section of the City’s website is now working and he encourages us to use it. You can go into the system and it will show you what types of crimes occur in your neighborhood.

The close circuit public camera system that is being installed should be operational in the first quarter of ’08. He believes this system will help provide leads after a crime has been committed.

His officers also know who the perpetrators of most of the
crime are, they just cannot always get convictions. To overcome
this problem he rcommends changing the reward system to pay
people for information that leads to an arrest so as not to
make them wait until a conviction has been obtained. This should
provide more leads and thus stronger evidence to build good
cases against the bad guys.

Another tool they are now using is greater involvement by the Department of Justice in city policing matters. The DOJ has special powers to wiretap and can work cooperatively with local officials to build strong cases against criminals. As long as gang activity is the DOJ can expend resources.

No RPD talk would be complete without a mention of the departments
$10M move to new digs often referred to as the Taj Majal, away
from City Center, to escape a mold problem. The move was controversial
for a city constantly strapped for cash, but Chief Magnus stands
behind the move and says that it will enable the City to rebuild
the old Hall of Justice more efficiently. There is just one
problem – they don’t have the money because they are spending
too much rebuilding City Hall. Expect a long
stay at the Taj Mahal.

Faithful scribe, Mark Howe.

Upcoming Programs

Nov. 23
Post-Thanksgiving day, Club dark.

November 30
Cleveland Bellard will address the Club on the state
of Africa and agriculture.

Have a suggestion for a speaker? Please pass along
the name and contact information to Jim Young.

Important Events

You had to be there...

On Tuesday, Nov. 6th, Liliane Koziol presented
a program to the Rotary Club of Moraga. Subject: The
island of Madagascar. Because Werner introduced her,
somehow "talking frogs" hopped into the presentation. Curious?